Monday, July 21, 2025

Australian Distraction

 I haven't taken much time to tat this week. Okay, maybe I haven't tatted at all this week. I've not only been busy but distracted as well.

This year I am the head of the Board of Education for our church. This means that I'm in charge of the Vacation Bible School, which is next week. For the last several weeks I've been organizing people and items needed for this event. And I'm not a very organized person! I'm a bit stressed. 

The theme this year is Epic Australian Adventure, so I've been working on Australian themed decorations, including trees.


This tree is paper covered pool noodles. I'm not sure this is what we're going with, not even that it looks like a tree from Australian, but I'm sure it will be used. Pinterest is a great place to get ideas as well as how-tos. I made this one at home so I could gage how long this would take to make. We might have to take it apart to get it to the church. I hope not!

My job during VBS itself is the story leader. I had this idea that I should dress à la Steve Irwin, shorts and shirt in the same color and hiking boots. I cannot wear anything that is khaki colored, it makes me look sick, so I chose to go with a jungle green color instead. The shorts are a bit lighter color, but the shirt is an exact match as my hat! I think it will be fun!

I want to make fun earrings to go with my outfit. I found some Australian animal charms on Amazon that I'm sure I can make into a pair of earrings by next Monday, the start of our VBS. I just need to decide if I should go with a green thread to match the clothes, go with something bright, or ? 


I'll play with color choice tomorrow, when the light it better. We have a storm coming in at the moment - even though the weather man on the 6:00 PM news said that the stormy weather would all stay north. Time to get off the computer. 

What color do you think I should make my earrings?

"I have no fear of losing my life - if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it."

Steve Irwin

Monday, July 14, 2025

Coral Wave

The Wave earrings my niece asked me to make for her are done! 


The color in this picture is not what I would have liked to post, but it's the best of the pictures I took. They did come out nicely. I haven't yet arranged with her to mail them, but they should go out this week. Yay!
(I just noticed I've got the overlap on the earrings going in opposite directions! I fixed it!)

I don't crochet but I enjoy seeing it. This might be why I found a story on Facebook today.
If you go to the National Parks Service internet page and type in 'crochet' in the search bar, you get links to several crochet patterns. Who would have thought? They are pretty cute!

Let me know what you think of them. 

                         "If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?" Steven Wright



Monday, July 7, 2025

Earrings Requested

After seeing them on Facebook a niece asked me to make her a pair of the 'Wave' earrings. I asked her what colors she would like and she requested coral and teal. The coral thread I have, but I didn't have any beads that were teal. I was fortunate enough that I went to Hobby Lobby on a week where the beads were 50% off! With a little help from one of the associates stocking the beads I found what I think will work.


Now that I have the beads, it shouldn't take long to make the earrings. 

 I mentioned a few weeks ago that I have been having trouble with my computer. It wasn't just my imagination, it started making a terrible noise when I was using it. I shut it down to save it as much as possible until something could be done. Unfortunately, that something is getting another computer.

I didn't plan on buying another computer at this time, but I use it a lot. I pay bills, work with pictures, write my blog, and write and diagram my patterns. I do the pictures and the patterns with special programs that will have to installed on the new computer. I don't think the picture program will be a problem, but the pattern program could be. Until I get that program going, I will not be able to work on, or modify, any patterns. If there is any issues with it, I'll have to find another way to do them. This has me a bit worried.

I have been working to update my blog since I have returned it to Blogger. There are a lot of links that are broken that I'm not sure how I'm going to fix. There are pattern links I know how to fix that are now delayed due to not having access to the pattern program. 

I have been using, and am very happy with, Serif Draw, the vector program I use for patterns. I've upgraded computers before and it installed correctly, but I'm always a bit concerned if it will work correctly on the new computer. I really don't want to learn a new program. 

If there are any patterns that are temporarily unavailable, contact me and I'll see what I can do. As for the rest of the broken links, one small step at a time.

"Never trust a computer you can't throw out a window." Steve Wozniak

 

Friday, July 4, 2025

Independence Day!


 Happy Independence Day, USA!

This is my daughter's fireplace mantle with the table runner I made for her in 2021. Doesn't it look amazing on the mantle? Like it was made for it!

I found a small flag that I had tatted years ago. Does anyone recognize where the pattern is from? 


We'll be celebrating the 4th at our daughter's house this evening, with family, food, and fireworks!

May you have a safe and happy Independence day!